A wooden doll came to life and rebelled against me, and you helped me to control it. Thanks.

I give infinite thanks to the Virgin of Guadalupe because my mom taught me to make traditional dolls Marias, or Mazahuas. By selling them I could support my kids, and I’m very proud that the people who buy them take a part of my culture with each doll.

Queretaro, Mexico

Raul Perez bought an inflatable doll for his shenanigans but his pals found out about it and he became a laughingstock for everybody. He thanks Saint Pancras with this retablo bessie thanks to this he managed to get rid of his fetish and now goes out with real women.

My father was a craftsman who dedicated himself to making puppets. When I was a little boy, I loved them very much and played with them. I dedicate this humble retablo to Saint Jude Thaddeus thanking him because I inherited the secret of making these puppets and I’m going to pass it to my children.

Puebla, Mexico

I dedicate this retablo to the Miraculous Virgin. She helped me to find a puppet to do ventriloquism. I named it Johnny The Little Gringo. With him I have a successful tour through whole South Jalisco.

Marta Cervantes woke up in the middle of the night being attacked by the dolls she had been collecting. She thanks Saint Ignatius of Loyola with the present retablo because she managed to escape, and the next day she got rid of them.

Teofila Mendes thanks the Holy Child of Atocha because the artist Frida gave her a doll for her daughter on the Three Kings’ Day.

Mexico, 1939

My children were playing on the beach, and my daughter’s doll was taken by a wave. My daughter is a good swimmer so she dived after her doll. But she got tangled in some seaweed and couldn’t get out. I ran to that place where she disappeared but Saint Barbara made so that our brave dog rushed there before me and dragged my girl to the shore pulling by her clothes. I thank the Saint for such a wonderful dog who is a real hero.

Rosita Carbajal had 10 dolls that came to live and attacked her. She prayed to the Lord of Chalma and managed to save herself. She thanks for that with this retablo. After it was decided to get rid of the dolls.

I dedicate this retablo to Saint Bartholomew because I invented and patented a natural size model that reproduced, with some inaccuracies, the anatomy of the little boy about 3 years old. My son Enrique served as a model. I hope to sell it to the University of Guadalajara so that they do research on it as much as they like.

The girl Rosita Cabrera was very sad because her sister made a mean joke and cut her plait. She thanks Santa Rita because her parents punish her sister and to Rosita they bought a lot of sweets and a doll.

With this retablo the girl thanks Saint Nicholas of Bari because she saved enough money to buy this huge doll’s house which she so liked.

Carolina Contreras

The girl Catalina Rendon asked the Magi for a Barbie doll. Now, because her wish came true, she dedicates the retablo and thanks the Magi.